IRS NEWCASTLEwho are we? |
The People Behind the Newcastle Branch |
Headed by incoming Chairperson, Leanne Cruden of Ai Group; and continuing Secretary, Toree Diver and Treasurer, Rachel Jones of The Wests Group. Historically seen as a “boys club”, the Newcastle Branch committee now has six females on the committee and events are attended by many female IR practitioners. |
History was made in 2023 when the Newcastle Branch elected it’s first all female Executive Team. Chairpersons (formally Chairmen) 1978 – 1980 Bill Hopkins (Federated Ironworkers Association) 1981 – 1982 John Hayes (BHP Newcastle Steelworks) 1983 – 1992 John Varnum (Transport Workers Union) 1993 – 1995 Duncan Macdonald (University of Newcastle) 1996 – 1998 Maurie Rudd (AWU-FIMEE) (+) 1999 – 2000 Michael Tyler (Industrial Relations Consultant) 2000 – 2002 John Stanton (Australian Industry Group) (+) 2003 – 2005 Mark Bray (University of Newcastle) 2006 – 2008 Catherine Wilkinson (Sparke Helmore Lawyers) 2009 – 2010 Kevin Maher (AWU) 2011 – 2012 Kevin O’Malley (Hunter New England Health) 2012 – 2013 Emma Morson (Ai Group) 2014 – 2015 Tony Callinan (AWU) 2016 – 2017 Graham Holland (Newcastle City Council) 2017 – 2018 David Bliss (SDA) 2018 – 2023 Lee Smith (The Wests Group) 2023 – current Leanne Cruden (Ai Group) | Secretaries 1978 – 1990 Brian Cogan (Newcastle Herald) (+) 1991 – 1992 Tony Brown (Newcastle Ports Authority) 1993 – 1994 Allan Gordon (Orion Energy) 1995 – 1996 Peter Phillips (NSW Department of Industrial Relations) 1997 – 1998 Phil Amos (Australian Business Limited) 1999 – 2000 Danielle Platt (Australian Business Limited) 2001 – 2005 Glenda Winsen (University of Newcastle) (+) 2006 – 2012 Mark Northam (IEU) 2013 – 2015 Catherine Wilkinson (Sparke Helmore Lawyers) 2016 – 2019 Bianca Smith 2019 – 2020 Michelle Gulliver-Smith (+) 2020 – current Toree Diver |
Treasurers/Assistant Secretaries 1978 – 1979 Duncan Macdonald (University of Newcastle) 1980 – 1981 Alam Brown (Moroney, Rutter and Mantach Solicitors) 1982 – 1992 William Mierendorff (Chamber of Manufactures) (+) 1993 – 1994 Justin Davis 1995 – 1998 Nick Convery (Energy Australia) 1999 – 2002 John Anthony (Braye Cragg Solicitors) 2003 – 2017 Greg Kerr 2018 – 2020 Rachael Findlay 2020 – 2024 Rachel Jones (The Wests Group) 2025 - current Cameron Wright (AWU) | Life Members Mr Bill Hopkins OAM Mr Bryan Cogan (+) Mr William Mierendorff (+) Prof. Duncan MacDonald Dr Rod Harrison Ms Barbara Nebart Mr Ralph Warren Mr Peter McPherson Prof. Mark Bray (+) deceased |